Musical instrument.



No. 731,262. PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903. P. WUEST, JR. MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6,1903.

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No. 731,262. PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903. P. WUEST, J11. MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAB. 6, 1903.

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E :1 i 5 ayi i 395 is a 11 1 I :5 g i w i i s11. 4/ A46 4g 35 53FIfiZI/T 11 UNITED STATES Patented June 16, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 731,262, dated June 16,1903.

Application filed March 6,1903.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP IVUEST, J12, of Philadelphia, in the State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMusical Instruments, whereof the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings.

My improvements are particularly applicable to instruments of the classknown as piano-players. Such an instrument usually comprises a series offinger-levers, which are arranged to impinge upon the digitals of apiano or similar instrument and are automatically actuated in apredetermined sequence by a similar series of pneumatic motors. Saidmotors are primarily controlled by a web of perforated paper which isprogressed with respect to a pneumatic tracker-bar provided with aseries of apertures leading to the re spective lever-motors throughsuitable pneumatic conduits, such control beingeffectedindirectlythroughindividual valve mechanism s corresponding with therespective motors.

IIeretofore the motorcontrolling valve mechanisms aforesaid have beenmounted. in a single group in a chest common to all of them andconsisting of a number of partitionboards grooved, fitted, and gluedtogether to form valve-chambers and wind-ducts leading to and from thesame. All of the valve-chambers being rigidly related in said ordinarychest the contraction and expansion in different parts thereofultimately cause accidental communication between the pneumatic ducts,which should be separate. Moreover, such construction necessitates themanipulation of the ent-ire valve-chest when it is necessaay to repairor remove any one valve.

It is one object of my invention to dispense with said single-chestarrangement by providing a sufficient number of substantiallycounterpart valve casings or shelves each containing a limited number ofsaid valve mechanisms and conveniently supporting the motors connectedtherewith, said shelves being fitted for independent contraction andexpansion in relation to each other, but read-' ily separable andinterchangeable. The advantages of such construction and arrangement aremanifold. For instance, the manuf acture of such instruments ismaterially sim- Serial No. 146,485. (No model.)

the valve-chambers and air-ducts, and the adjustment or repair of anyvalve mechanism or motor is facilitated by limiting the number andextent of theparts which must be removed to afford access thereto.

As heretofore constructed the valvecham bers have been connected withthe exhaustbellows by means of a wind -box separate from and exterior tosaid common valvechest, with the disadvantage that the unequal expansionand contraction of said box and chest open crevices between them, andthus materially aifect the operation of the instrument.

A further object of my invention is to dispense with such a separatewind-box by providin g corresponding wind-ports in the severalvalve-shelves, which are placed in communication directly therethrough.

My invention also comprehends the various novel features of constructionand arrangement hereinafter more definitely specified.

In the drawings, Figure I is a vertical sectional view of apiano-player, showing a con- Venient embodiment of my invention. Fig. IIis a vertical transverse sectional view of one of the unit valve casingsor shelves, taken on the line II II in Figs. III and IV. Fig. III is avertical longitudinal sectional View of said shelf, taken on the lineIII III in Figs. II and IV. Fig. IV is a horizontal longitudinalsectionalview of said shelf, taken on the line IV IV in Figs. II andIII. Fig. V is a top plan view of said shelf with the valve-fittings andmotors removed. FigzVI is a front edge view of said shelf shown in Fig.V, but with the front cover-board removed. Fig. VII is an inverted planview of the shelf shown in Figs. V and VI.

Referring to Fig. I, the instrument-casing 1 is provided with the rail2, on which is mounted the series of finger-levers 3, arranged toimpinge upon the digitals of the piano or similar instrument. Saidfingerlevers 8 are respectively provided with springs & and operativelyconnected by rods 5 with respectively independent pneumatic motors 6,arranged in three distinct groups of twentytwo each, which groups areindependently inclosed and supported by the separable shelves 8, 9, and10, mounted within. said casing 1. upon the wind-chest 12. Ihave shownthe details of construction of the shelf 9 in Figs. II to VII,inclusive, and it is to be understood that the construction of the othershelves 8 and 10 is substantially similar thereto.

As indicated in Fig. I, the filling-blocks 14, 15, and 16 are interposedbeneath the respective shelves 8, 9, and 10, and the latter are clampedupon the wind-chest 12 in proper relation with each other by means ofthe bolts 18, provided with nuts 19 and extending through brackets 2021, the latter being respectively secured to the top of the shelf 8 andto the bottom of said wind-chest and project ing beyond the same toengage said bolts.

The operation of each pneumatic motor 6 is controlled by the traverse ofthe perforated paper web 23 with respect to the pneumatic trackerbar 24.Said web being initially wound upon the roller 25 and being in theoperation of the instrument unwound therefrom and wound upon the roller26 opens and closes the tracker-bar apertures 28, which are arranged ina series corresponding with the series of finger-levers 3. Saidtrackerbar apertures 28 are operatively connected with correspondingmotors 6 by conduits, including flexible tubes 30, extending from therear of the tracker-bar and through corresponding inlets 31 in theshelves 8, 9, and 10. Said conduits terminate in respective diaphragmseats 33 beneath diaphragms 34, which in distinct series of twenty-twoeach are respectively mounted in said valveshelves. Each of saiddiaphragms 34 is in registry with a valve -plunger 35, provided with avent-valve 36 and an exhaust-valve 37, the former controlling an opening38, leading to the atmosphere, and the latter controlling an opening 39in the vacuum-chamber 40, a partial vacuum being maintained in thelatter during the operation of the instrument. Said valves 36 and 37control the ducts 41, which open into the pneumatic-motor bellows 6, andthe arrangement of the parts above described is such that when one ofthe tracker-bar apertures 28 is closed by the web 23 the pneumatic motor6 corresponding therewith is distended by atmospheric pressure in theposition shown in Fig. I, being in connection with the atmospherethrough the duct 41 and vent-openings 3S. lVhen, however, any trackerbar aperture 28 is opened to the atmosphere by the traverse of the web23, its respective diaphragm 34 is uplifted by atmospheric pressureopposed to the partial vacuum within the chamber 40, and the vent-valve36 closes the vent-opening 38 and the exhaust valve 37 opens theexhaust-opening 39, thereby placing the cor-' responding bellows 6 incommunication with the partial vacuum in the chamber 40 through the duct41 and exhaust-opening 39, collapsing said bellows 6 and causing thecorresponding finger-lever 3 to impinge upon its respective digital.

It is to be noted that each of the inlets 31 for the diaphragm-seats 33is provided with a branch 42, terminating in a small aperture 43,opening into the vacuum-chamber 40, so that after each operation abovedescribed the pressure may be equalized upon the opposite sides of thediaphraglns 34 and the parts be automatically restored to the positionshown in Figs. I, II, and III.

The valveshelves 8, 9, and 10 each comprise a bottom board 46, aduct-bar 47, and wind-port blocks 48, rigidly connected therewith, aremovable top cover-board 49, and a removable front cover-board 50. Thedia: phragm-seats 33, formed in said bottom board 46, are in registrywith the valve-chambers 52, formed in said top cover-board 49, andcommunication is established between the vacuum-chambers 40 directlythrough the windports 53 and 54, formed, respectively, in said bottomboard 46 and said top board 49, in registry in the respective shelves 8,9, and 10 and in registry with the wind-port 56 in the top of thewind-chest 12.

In order to separately control and operate the treble and basspneumatics at different pressures, if desired, they are convenientlyseparated in each shelf by a partition 58, extending across eachvacuum-chamber 40, so that its two divisions are respectively inconnection with the wind-ports at the opposite ends of its shelf.Similarly the wind-chest 12 is divided intermediate of its length, andits respective divisions are provided with slide-valves60,i1'1dependentlycontrolled by .rockshafts provided with lever-arms 6162,

operatively connected by links 63 with handlevers 64, so that thepressure (or degrees of Vacuum) in respective communication with thetreble pneumatics and with the bass pneumatics may be separatelydetermined at the will of the operator by the manipulation of thehand-levers 64, only one of said levers and its connections beingillustrated in Fig. I.

The valves control respective openings 66, extending from said divisionsof the windchest 12 into the wind-box 67, and the latter is providedwith the valve 68, connected by the rock-shaft 7 O, lever-arms 71 72,and link 7 3 with the hand-lever 74. Said valve 68 controls the opening75, leading to the wind-conduit 76, which is in operative communicationwith the main exhaust-bellows.

By the arrangement shown in full lines in Fig. I the operation of eachmotor 6 is effected directly by its single pneumatic diaphragms 34 andthe valves connected therewith. However, I find it convenient to effectsuch operation by two sets of pneumatic diaphragms, valves, &c., undersome circumstancesfor instance, if the apertures in the web 23 are verysmall. I have indicated by dotted lines in Fig. I a convenientarrangement wherein the diaphragms 34 become secondary, their conduits30 being extended to an independent shelf 78, inclosing a vacuum-chamber7 9 and controlled by primary diaphragms SO and valves 81 82, the seats84 of said diaphragm 80 being connected with the tracker-bar 24 by ductsS5 and conduits 86. As indicated, the shelf 78 is provided with anindependent wind-conduit 88,extending from the wind-box 67 to itsvacuum-chamber 79; but it is to be understood that said shelf may bestacked with the shelves 8, 9, and 10 and be similarly connected withthe Wind-chest 12.

Although the construction chosen for illustration comprises threeseparable valveshelves stacked together, it is to be understood that agreater or less number may be employed, as described.

I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of constructionherein set forth, as it is obvious that various modifications may bemade therein without departing from the essential features of myinvention.

1. In a piano-player, the combination with a series of finger-levers; ofa plurality of pneumatic motors respectively connected with saidfinger-levers; a valve mechanism for each of said motors; and, aplurality of separable valve-shelves, each inclosing a definite group ofsaid valves, substantially as set forth.

2. In a piano-player, the combination with a series of fingenlevers; ofa plurality of pneumatic motors respectively connected with saidfinger-levers; a valve mechanism for each of said motors; and, aplurality of separable valve-shelves, each inclosing a definite group ofsaid valves; said motors being mounted upon said shelves independentlyof each other rable valve-shelves each containing a distinct series ofvalves respectively in operative relation with correspondingfinger-levers, substantially as set forth.

i. In a piano-player, the combination with a series of finger-leverseach operatively connected with a motor and an individual valvemechanism for controlling the same; of a plurality of separablevalve-shelves, each inclosing a definite number of said valves and eachcomprising a vacuum-chamber common to the valves which it incloses; and,registered wind ports in the respective valveshelves, for directcommunication between said vacuum chambers, substantially as set forth.

5. A separable valve shelf for a pianoplayer, comprising a bottom boardprovided with a series of pneumatic diaphragm-seats; a duct-bar fixed tosaid bottom board; a top cover-board fixed to said duct-bar and providedwith a series of valve chambers, respectively in registry With thediaphragmseats in said bottom board; and, a front coverboard connectingsaid bottom board and said top board and provided with a series ofinlets respectively in registry with said. diaphragm-seats,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, at Philadelphia,Pennsyl- Vania, this 4th day of March, 1903.

PHILIP WUEST, JR.

Vitnesses:

ARTHUR E. PAIGE, CLIFTON O. HALLoWELL.

